Shiga Kogen hotels

Plan on going to Shiga Kogen for the 1st time towards the end of Jan 2009. Has anyone stayed at either Hotel Heights Shiga Kogen or Kidoike Onsen Hotel and care to comment, or alternatively if anyone has stayed in another good hotel at a similar price (about 8000 to 9000 yen including 2 meals in a western room) ?
Is it true that there are virtually no restaurants in Shiga Kogen and people just eat in their hotels ? It sounds a little dull--I hope it is not true or has changed ? If so, we will definitely get a car and drive to different hotels to have dinner, do people do that ? What else is there to do apres ski ?

Is it true that there are virtually no restaurants in Shiga Kogen and people just eat in their hotels?

Yes, it is true. Shiga Kogen does not have anything like a town center, and virtually no restaurants and bars outside its hotels. Shiga Kogen consists of hotels and ryokan distributed around the area.

The "traditional" Japanese way of enjoying skiing is by relaxing with dinner and bath at one's ryokan after skiing. Some resorts like Niseko and Hakuba have more Western style "apres ski" options these days, but Shiga Kogen is not (yet?) among them.

We'll be driving so we plan on driving to other hotels for dinner. Hope others can share their experience at Shiga Kogen hotels, our budget is 8000 to 9000 per adult per day including breakfast and dinner (less without dinner if we want to eat dinner elsewhere).